Let’s be real for a second. If you just looked at the box scores from this past season, you’d probably think Ashton Jeanty was just another "fine" rookie. A bit of a letdown for a guy taken at No. 6 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, right? Wrong.
Context is everything in the NFL. When the Las Vegas Raiders officially drafted the Boise State legend, fans expected the human highlight reel who ran for over 2,600 yards in college. Instead, they got a guy fighting for his life behind an offensive line that was basically a rotating door. Honestly, it's a miracle he broke records at all.
The Reality of Ashton Jeanty’s Rookie Campaign
The "bust" talk is already floating around social media, but it's mostly noise. People see a 3.7 yards-per-carry average and start hitting the panic button. What they don't see is that 57% of Jeanty’s rushing yards came after contact.
The Raiders' offensive line was a disaster. Kolton Miller missed 13 games. Jackson Powers-Johnson missed nine. At one point, the team was on its sixth different offensive line combination. You could have prime Barry Sanders back there and he'd still be getting hit three yards behind the line of scrimmage.
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Despite the chaos, Jeanty still put his name in the Raiders' history books. He finished the season with 1,321 scrimmage yards, narrowly beating out Josh Jacobs’ rookie record of 1,316. He also joined the legendary Marcus Allen as one of the only Raiders rookies to hit 10 or more touchdowns in a season.
By The Numbers: 2025 Season Totals
- Rushing Yards: 975 (Led all NFL rookies)
- Total Scrimmage Yards: 1,321 (Franchise Rookie Record)
- Total Touchdowns: 10 (5 rushing, 5 receiving)
- Missed Tackles Forced: 71 (Tied for 4th in the NFL)
He basically carried the offense. Literally. Next Gen Stats showed he had the second-fewest yards before contact in the entire league among high-volume backs. If the Raiders give him even a tiny bit of daylight in 2026, those numbers are going to explode.
Why the Raiders "Mistake" is a Myth
There’s a narrative going around—pushed by folks like Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski—that the Raiders should have taken a receiver like Tetairoa McMillan instead. McMillan had a monster year for the Panthers, sure. But saying the Raiders didn't need a bell-cow back is revisionist history.
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The Raiders needed an identity. Pete Carroll, who took over the reins during this rocky season, wanted a physical, downhill presence. Jeanty gave them that. Even when the team moved on from offensive coordinator Chip Kelly mid-season, Jeanty remained the one constant.
General Manager John Spytek recently defended the pick, noting that "there's 10 other people out there with him." It’s a fair point. You can't blame the engine when the wheels are falling off the car.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 NFL Draft and "The Savior"
The Raiders finished a miserable 3-14, which, ironically, is the best thing that could have happened for Jeanty’s future. By securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Raiders are finally in a position to get a franchise quarterback.
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Jeanty didn't hold back when asked about it. "That type of pick can change an organization," he told reporters after the Week 18 win against the Chiefs. "Just praying we make the right pick."
The name everyone is whispering is Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback who has been soaring up draft boards. If the Raiders land a legitimate threat under center, defenses won't be able to stack eight men in the box every time Jeanty touches the ball.
Actionable Next Steps for Raiders Fans
If you're a Raiders fan or a fantasy manager holding onto Jeanty, don't sell low. The talent is clearly there—the 24 broken tackles and the 60-yard receiving touchdown against the Texans in Week 16 prove that. Here is what needs to happen next for Jeanty to reach elite status:
- Fix the Trenches: The Raiders must use free agency or their second-round pick (No. 36) on a high-end tackle. Names like Trevor Goosby or Caleb Tiernan are worth watching.
- Draft the QB: Selecting Mendoza at No. 1 is non-negotiable. A credible passing threat will naturally increase Jeanty's yards-per-carry by opening up the lanes.
- Scheme Consistency: With a new head coach search underway, the Raiders need a play-caller who understands how to use Jeanty’s pass-catching floor, which he showed off with 55 receptions this year.
The "down" year for Ashton Jeanty was actually a record-breaking one. If this was his floor, his ceiling is going to be terrifying for the rest of the AFC West.